Checkwriter

ABSTRACT

A checkwriter having differentially settable printing sectors for printing amounts on checks and for subtracting such amounts from an accumulator which registers the balance in s user&#39;&#39;s bank account. The sectors are also used to add amounts in the accumulator representing deposits in the user&#39;&#39;s bank account. The sectors are manually advanced to different amount representing positions from home positions wherein they locate special symbols to be printed in lieu of amounts. After printing, the sectors are returned towards their home positions and during this movement they digitize the accumulator. Overthrow preventing means momentarily arrest the sectors and accumulator at zero registration of the sectors. The accumulator is then demeshed and the sectors are further returned to home positions. Intermeshing check locating members are provided to adjust a check relative to the printing line.

United States Patent Grey [54] CHECKWRITER [72} Inventor: Michael W.Grey, Azusa, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. WalAtt0meyFred N. Schwend 51 July 18, 1972 ABSTRACT A checkwriter havingdifferentially settable printing sectors for printing amounts on checksand for subtracting such amounts from an accumulator which registers thebalance in s user's bank account. The sectors are also used to addamounts in the accumulator representing deposits in the user's bankaccount. The sectors are manually advanced to different amountrepresenting positions from home positions wherein they locate specialsymbols to be printed in lieu of amounts. After printing, the sectorsare returned towards their home positions and during this movement theydigitize the accumulator. Overthrow preventing means momentarily arrestthe sectors and accumulator at zero registration of the sectors. Theaccumulator is then demeshed and the sectors are further returned tohome positions. lntermeshing check locating members are provided toadjust a check relative to the printing line.

8 Claim, ll Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. MICHAEL W. GREY BY I Patented July 18, 1972 3 Sheets-SheetINVENTOR.

w N/CHAA'L VV. GesY Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,463

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR. MICHAEL W GREY k BY X! Z. AK

CIIECKWRITER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to checkwriters and has particular reference tocheckwriters of the type which keep track of the users bank balance atall times.

2. Description of the Prior Art The M. W. Grey Pat. No. 3,570,756,issued on Mar. I6, I971, is representative of a checkwriterincorporating an accumulator which automatically deducts amounts printedon checks from a total registered in the accumulator and representingthe user's bank balance. Such checkwriter incorporates manually settableprinting sectors having type characters ranging from a special symbolthrough zero, to nine. In printing checks, those sectors which are toprint amounts are manually set to resister the desired amounts. Othersectors remain in home positions where they print special symbols, suchas an asterisk. Printing is effected and the sectors are then returnedby power while subtractively digitizing the accumulator. As the sectorsreach their zero registering positions, the accumulator is disconnectedand the sectors continue on to their home positions.

Although such prior checkwriter works satisfactorily at speeds below acertain critical limit, the accumulator tends to overthrow at higherspeeds.

Also, in such prior checkwriter, an amount to be added to represent adeposit in the users bank account is added directly during manualsetting of the sectors. This requires a different timing of certainmechanisms of the checkwriter and thus requires additional mechanism toeffect the change in timing during add operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, theprinting sectors digitize the accumulator during power return of thesectors from manually set positions toward home positions, and in orderto prevent overthrow of the accumulator, the sectors are ositivelyarrested in zero registering positions, after which the accumulator isdisconnected and the sectors are subsequentially further power returnedto home positions.

The accumulator is digitized either additively or subtractivcly duringthe power return of the printing sectors from their manually setpositions so that the same basic timing of the machine is retainedregardless of whether amounts are added or subtracted. Therefore, thecontrols for the chcckwriter can be made simpler and more reliable.

A novel, simple, and highly reliable check positioning device enablesthe position of the printing line on a check to be changed as desired oras dictated by the format of the check.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a longitudinal sectionalview taken through a checkwriter embodying a preferred from of thepresent inventlon.

FIG. 2 is a rear view taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. I,illustrating the adjustable check positioning device.

FIG. 3 is a developed view of one of the pourous rubber printingsegments.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view illustrating the cyclic drive clutch andthe controls therefor.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view illustrating mainly the means includingthe deposit key for setting the checkwriter in an add condition.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view illustrating part of the drive train forreturning the input sectors to their home positions.

FIG. 7 is a developed view of the gears shown in FIG. 6 and is takensubstantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view illustrating the overdraft lockmechanism for the input sectors.

FIG. 9 is a side view of part ofthe accumulator controls.

FIG. I0 is an enlarged sectional view through a part of the accumulatorand is taken substantially along the line I0l0 of FIG. 1.

FIG. II is a sectional side view through the accumulator, illustratingpart of the dial aligning device, and is taken along line "-11 ot'FIG.I0.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, thecheckwriter comprises a plurality of denominationally arranged inputsectors 11 independently pivoted in side-by-side relation on a rockshaft [2. Each sector II has a series of numbered finger spaces 13arranged around the periphery thereof and identified by a series ofcharacters, including an asterisk symbol and the digits 0 to 9.

Each of the input sector II carries a porous ink impregnated segment Mof rubber or the like, such as is known in the trade as PORELONhavingtype characters formed in the outer face thereof as indicated at 17 inFIG. 3 and comprising an asterisk and the digits 0 to 9 corresponding tothose marked on the finger spaces I3. Normally, when the sectors are intheir illustrated home positions, the finger space 13a of each inputsector which is marked with an asterisk or star, is located directlyabove a shelf 15 of a machine cover 16. Also, as asterisk type character17a on each rubber segment 14 is normally located at a printing line,opposite a platen section 18 of a printing member [9. The member I9 ispivotally supported at 63 for movement toward the sectors II to impressa check or the like 65 against aligned type characters 17 as will bedescribed later.

In order to set up amounts in the sectors II, the user places his fingerin a selected finger space of a sector 1] and rotates the sectorcounterclockwise until his finger strikes the shelf 15, therebypresenting the corresponding type character 17 at the printing line.

In order to prevent smudging of the check 65 when inserting the same tobe imprinted, a thin flexible mask 73 is supported by a fame tie rod 25in position over the various inked seg ments l4 and has openings 74therein aligned with the type characters 17 located at the printingline.

The input sectors [1 are yieldably detented in different set positionsand, for this purpose, a pair of juxtaposed bars 27 and 28 are suitablysecured to side frame plates i.e. 26, and extend through openings 30 inthe various sectors 11. Detent balls 31 are slideably supported intransverse openings in the bar 28 and are urged outwardly by respectivecompression springs 32 to yieldably engage detent notches 33 formed inthe sectors 1 I.

The checkwriter is driven by a motor (not shown) through a cyclicallyoperable clutch generally indicated at 34, FIG. 4. The latter comprisesa motor driven ratchet wheel 35 rotatably mounted on a main drive shaft36 to which shaft is attached a clutch disc 37. A clutch pawl 38 ispivoted on the clutch disc 37 at 40 and is urged counterclockwise by atension spring 4| but is normally held out of engagement with theratchet wheel 35 by a clutch dog 42 pivotally supported at 43 and urgedcounterclockwise into its illustrated clutch discngaging position by atension spring 44.

For the purpose of causing a cycle of operation of the checkwriter, adepressible motor control bar 45 is slideably supported on a pair offrame pins 46 and 47 and has an extension 48 overlying an ear 50 on abail SI which is pivotally supported on the frame pin 47. The bail ispivotally connected at 52 to a link 53. The latter has a notch 54normally held in embracemcnt with an ear 55 on the clutch dog 42 by atension spring 56 extending between the link 53 and the bail SI. Thespring 56 also acts through the bail 5! to normally maintain the motorbar 45in its illustrated raised position.

Upon depression of the motor control bar 45, the bail Sl is rockedcounterclockwise, causing an ear 57 thereon to effect closing of a motorswitch 58 and to concurrently cause link 53 to release clutch dog 42 toallow the clutch pawl 38 to engage the clutch. During rotation of theclutch disc 37, a pin 60 thereon engages the line 53 to release the samefrom the clutch control lever 42 so that the latter may causedisengagement of the clutch after one complete revolution of the shaft36, even through the motor bar 45 may continue to be held depressed.

The main shaft 36 carries a printer control cam 6|, FIG. 1, whichengages a cam follower portion 62 formed on the printer member 19. Thelatter is held in engagement with the cam 61 by a spring 64 tensionedbetween the member and an element 65 freely supported by the rock shaft12. Ac cordingly, during the early part of each checkwriter cycle, themember 19 will be rocked counterclockwise causing the platen section 18thereon to imprint the check 65 against an aligned set of typecharacters 17 which have been moved to the printing line by the sectorsll. During the printing impression the mask 73 will yield to permitimprinting.

In order to vertically adjust the location of the print line on thecheck 65, a pair of intenneshed sectors 66 and 67, FIGS. l and 2, arepivotally supported on pins 68 and 69, respectively, extending from theprinting member l9. Pins 70 and 71 are formed on the sectors 66 and 67and extend through arcuate slots 72 in the printer member 19 to underliethe check 65 and thus locate the same vertically. Warped spring clips73' are also mounted on the pins 68 and 69 and frictionally engage thesectors 66 and 67 to yieldably hold the sections in different setpositions. By manually moving one of the sectors, both pins 70 and 71will be adjusted like amounts vertically to determine the position ofthe print line on the check.

For the purpose of indicating at all times the balance of the user'sbank account, an accumulator, generally indicated at 75. FlGS. l, 8, land 11, is provided and is digitized in accordance with amounts set upin the input sectors 11. The accumulator is of the crawl type, similarto that disclosed in the aforementioned M. W. Gary Pat. No. 3,570,756.

The accumulator 75 is normally controlled to subtract an amount set upon the input sectors 11 from a total registered in the accumulator andrepresenting the balance in the user's bank account. However, by settingan appropriate control, to be described later, amounts set up in theinput sectors II and representing an amount deposited in the users bankaccount will he added to the accumulator.

The accumulator 75 comprises an accumulator shaft 76 guided for fore andaft transverse movement in guide slots 77, FIG. 8, formed in the sideframe plates 26. Each denominational order of the accumulator except thehighermost or lcfthand one, comprises a dial element 78 on which twoseries of numerals 90 are marked therearound, each series rangingprogressively from 0 t0 9". Also integral with each dial element 78 is aset of internal gear teeth 80, an eccentric hub 81 and a double snailcam 82, see also FIG. 11. The dial elements 78 are independentlyrotatable on the accumulator shaft 76.

A floating gear 79 having 18 gear teeth 83 thereon is rotatably mountedon a respective eccentric hub 81 and meshes with the teeth 80 of theassociated dial element 78.

An accumulator gear 84, having 18 teeth 85 on the outer peripherythereof, is rotatably mounted on an annular flange 86 on the associateddial element 78 and has nine gear teeth elements 87 which mesh with ninegear teeth elements 88 on the floating gear 79.

From the above it will be seen that each accumulator gear 84 isentrained in a nine to ten ratio with its associated dial element 78through a floating gear 79. Accordingly, each dial element 78 receivesrotation from both its associated accumulator gear 84 and the dialelement 78 in the next lower denominational order. The relationshipbetween the gears is such that each dial element 78 will receive onedigital increment of movement from its associated accumulator gear 84upon movement of the latter one digital increment and it will receiveone tenth ofa digital increment upon movement ofthe dial element 78 inthe next lower denominational order one digital increment so that tenstransfers may be effected simultaneously with digitation in either ofopposite directions depending upon whether additive or subtractiveentries are being made.

Suitable means, not shown, is provided to prevent rotation of thelowermost denominational order dial element 78.

in order to align the dial elements 78 along a horizontal reading linewhereby the numerals 90 thereon may be read through opening 91, FIG. 1,in the machine cover 16, regardless of any partial tens transferincrements transferred thereto from lower denominational orders, eachsnail cam 82 controls a respective cam follower 91, FIGS. 1 and 11having slots 92 therein slideably embracing spaced support rods 93 and94. Each cam follower 91 has a sensing nose 95 engageable with theassociated snail cam 82 and a rack gear section 96 which meshes with theaccumulator gear 84 in the next higher denominational order.

The cam followers 91 are normally held down, out of engagement withtheir respective snail earns 82, during digitation of the accumulatorgears 84 and are moved into engagement with such snail cams at the endof each cycle whereby to compensate for any partial rotation of theassociated dial element due to entry of a tens transfer incrementthereinto. For this purpose, the cam followers 91 are connected to thefree ends of leaf springs 97 attached to a bail 98, FIGS. 1, 8 and 9,which is pivotally supported on a rod 100 and is connected at 10], FIG.9, to a lever 102. The latter is also pivoted on rod I00 and is coupledthrough a pin and alot connections I03 to a cam follower lever 104. Thelever 104 is pivoted on a frame pin 105 and engages acam 106 carried bythe main shaft 36.

When the checkwriter is in its illustrated full cycle position, the camfollower 104 is moved into engagement with the bottom of a depression107 in the cam I06 by a tension spring 108 connected to the bail 98,thereby stressing the leaf springs 97 to urge the cam followers 91against respective ones of the snail cams 82 and thus hold the variousdial elements 78 in positions wherein the numbers 90 thereon are locatedon a common reading line under the machine cover openings 91. At thestart of a checkwriter cycle, the cam 106 will rock the cam follower104, and consequently, bail 98 cause the leaf spring 97 to retract thecam follower 91 downwardly, out of engagement with the snail earns 82 sothat the accumulator may be driven in either direction.

As noted heretofore, the checkwriter is normally conditioned to causeamounts set up in the sectors it to be subtracted from the accumulator75. For this purpose, each sector 11 has a gear segment 110 which mesheswith an intermediate gear lll, the latter meshing with an add pinion 112which, in turn, meshes with a subtract pinion 113. The variousintermediate gears 11! are freely and independently rotatable on thedrive shaft 36 while the gears 112 and "3 are freely and independentlyrotatable on shafts H4 and 11S, respectively, which are carried at theirends by triangular plates "6, FIGS. 1, 5 and 8, freely pivoted on thedrive shaft 36.

Normally, the add-subtract gear assembly, including gears 112 and 113,is normally held in its illustrated raised position wherein the subtractidlers "3 are located directly opposite, but out of mesh with, theaccumulator gears 84. For this purpose, a spring 172, FIG. 5, istensioned between a pin 165 on one of the plates 6 and a frame pin 173.Also the shaft 115 is engaged by the inclined surface 117 of a latchlever H8. The latter is pivotally supported at 120 and is normally heldin its clockwise rocked position by a tension spring 12].

During the normal subtract cycle of the checkwriter, the accumulator 75is moved laterally to mesh the accumulator gears 84 with the subtractgears [13 and the input sectors 11 are thereafter returned from manuallyset positions to subtract the amount printed on the check from the totalregistered by the accumulator, For this purpose, cams, one of which, isshown at 123, FIG. 5, each have a cam groove I24 therein en gaged by apin I25, see also FIG. 1, forming part of a bell crank 126. The latteris pivotally supported at 127 and has a bifurcated end portion 128 whichengages one end of the accumulator shaft 76. Thus, during the early partof a cycle, the accumulator is moved rearwardly to mesh the accumulatorgears 84 with the subtract gears 113 A bail rod 130, FIGS. 1 and 8,extends through the openings 30 in the various input sectors 11 and issupported at opposite ends by arms, one of which is shown at 132,fastened to the rock shaft 12. The bail rod 130 is held in engagementwith shoulders 131 on the sectors 11, by a tensioned between the arm 132and the frame tie rod 25. A gear sector 134, FIG. 6, is attached to theshaft 12 and arm 132 and has a series of seven teeth 135, see also FIG.7, which are in line with a series of seven teeth 136 formed on amutilated gear 137 which is attached to the drive shaft 36. Accordingly,when any of the input sectors is manually advanced counterclockwise toenter a digital amount, the bail rod I30 and sector 134 will be rockedto locate the gear teeth 135 in the path of teeth 136. During the latterhalf of the cycle, the teeth 136 will mesh with the teeth I35, therebydriving any set ones of the input sectors 11 toward their home positionsand at the same time, subtracting amounts registered by the sectors 11from the total registered by the accumulator.

As the input sectors 11 are returned by the bail rod 130 to their0"positions, one increment prior to reaching their final home positions,the gear teeth 136 demesh from the sector gear teeth 135 and shortlythereafter the arms 126 are actuated by cams 123 to remove theaccumulator 75 from mesh with the subtract gears 3.

Means are provided to prevent overthrow of the relatively heavy inputsectors 11 toward their illustrated home or asterisk indicatingpositions as they reach their 0 positions so as to prevent possibleoverthrow of the accumulator. This means is positively acting and thusdoes not impose any limitation on the speed of operation of thecheckwriter. For this purpose, a bail 140, FIG. 1, extends across thevarious input sectors 11 and is pivotally supported at 141 and iscoupled by a slot 142 to the aforementioned pins 125. Accordingly, whenthe arms 126 are rocked clockwise to mesh the accumulator 75 with thegears 113, the bail 141 is rocked into an alternate position indicatedby dot-dash lines 140a into the paths of shoulders 143 formed on thesectors 11. Thus, such shoulders 143 arrest against the bail 140 whenthe sectors reach their "0" positions to block the sectors 11 andaccumulator against overthrow. However, if the sectors 11 have not beenpreviously moved out of their home or asterisk" positions, the bail 140will engage within V shaped notches 144 formed in the sectors.

Toward the end of the cycle, and when the accumulator 75 is returned outof mesh with the subtract gears 113, the bail 140 will be rocked back toits full line position of FIG. I and shortly thereafter an offset geartooth 145 on multiated gear 137 will engage a second offset gear tooth146 on the sector 134 to advance the latter and thereby all previouslyset sectors 1 I one further increment to their initial illustrated homeor asterisk printing positions.

When an amount greater than that registered by the accumulator issubtracted therefrom, the accumulator becomes negatively overdrafted anand in this condition the highennost denominational order dial element78a, FIG. 10, moves from its 0" registration to a "9" registration. Suchdial element 87a differs from the remaining dial elements 78 in that itcontains a two level annular flange I47,F1GS.8 and 10, in lieu of asnail cam 82. The flange 147 is sensed by a sensing lever I48 fulcrummedat 150 and integral with an arm 151 connected by a wire link 152 to anoverdraft latch 153 pivotally supported at 154. A tension spring 155urges the latch 153 towards latching engagement with the arm 132carrying the bail rod 130 but the latch I53 is normally prevented frommoving into latching engagement by engagement of the sensing lever 148with the high level periphery of the annular flange 147 when no negativeoverdraft exists. When an negative overdraft occurs, the dial element78a will be rotated one increment in a subtractive or clockwisedirection to indicate a 9" registration, thus locating a low levelflange section 156 opposite the sensing lever 148. Thus, the spring 155becomes effective to rock the latch 153 into latching engagement withthe am 132, preventing setting ofa new amount into the input sectors 11.This will apprise the operator that his bank account has been overdrawnand that a deposit must be made.

Means are provided to prevent latching of the arm 132 by the overdraftlatch [53 during a cycle and for this purpose an arm 157, FIG. 8, issecured to the bail 98 and extends behind the arm 151. During a cyclethe ball 98 is rocked counterclockwise causing the arm 157 to engage thearm 151 and thus hold the latch 153 out of engagement with the arm I32even though the accumulator may become negatively overdrafted duringsuch current cycle.

Means are provided to enter amounts additively into the accumulator torepresent amounts deposited in the user's bank account. For thispurpose, a deposit key 160, FIG. 5, is slideably supported by the framepins 46 and 47 and is coupled through a pin and slot connection 161 toan arm 162 pivotally supported at 163 in having a slot 164 thereonembracing a pin I65 attached to the triangular support plate 116 of theadd-subtract gear assembly. Thus, upon depression of the deposit key160, the add-subtract assembly will be lowered causing the shah to camalong the inclined surface 117 of the latch lever 118 until the addgears 112 are located directly opposite the accumulator gears 84. Insuch position, the shaft 115 is engaged by a notch 166 in the latchlever 118, thereby latching the add-subtract assembly in its lowermostadd condition. During an ensuing cycle initiated by depression of themotor control bar 45, the accumulator will be moved into mesh with theadd gears 112 so that during movement of the sectors 11 toward theirhome positions by the bail rod 130, amounts previously registered by thesectors will be entered additively into the accumulator.

Toward the end of an add or deposit cycle, a pin 170 on the cam 123 willengage an inclined surface 171 on the latch levcr 118 to rock the lattercounterclockwise and thus release the shaft 115, permitting the tensionspring 172 to return the addsubtract assembly to its upper illustratedsubtract position.

It will be recalled that when a negative overdraft occurs the inputsectors will be locked up by the latch 153 from again subtractingadditional amounts from the accumulator. How' ever, upon setting theadd-subtract gear assembly into its lower add" condition, the shaft 115will move to its lower position 1150, FIG. 8, during which it strikesthe sensing lever 148 to rock the latch 153 out of latching engagementwith the arm 132 so that amounts to be deposited can be set up on thesectors.

Means are provided for preventing depression of the deposit key 160during a cycle. For this purpose, the cam 123 is notched at 175 and alobe 176 is formed on the latch lever 118 in line with the cam. Thus,the lobe 176 can move into the notch I75 only when the cam 123 is infull cycle position.

lclaim:

I. In a checkwriter having an accumulator,

the combination comprising means including a plurality of manuallysettable sectors,

each of said sectors being differentially settable from a home positionfor setting up an amount to be printed, each of said sectors beingeffective when in said home position to set up a special symbol to beprinted;

cyclically operable drive means,

means operable by said drive means for printing amounts and symbols setup by said sectors,

means operable by said drive means for thereafter returning said sectorsto said home positions,

said last mentioned means being efiective to momentarily arrest saidsectors when said sectors register zero,

means for operatively connecting said accumulator to said sectors duringsaid return movement of said sectors whereby to drive said accumulator,

and means for disconnecting said accumulator when said sectors aremomentarily arrested.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for returningsaid sectors comprises a series of intermeshing gear teeth,

said series of teeth being interrupted whereby to momentarily arrest thereturn movement of said sectors when said sectors register zero.

3. The combination according to claim 1 comprising means for blockingsaid sectors on zero registering position,

and means operable by said drive means for rendering said blocking meanseffective when said sectors move toward zero register positions and forrendering said blocking means ineffective upon said disconnection ofsaid accumulator.

4. The combination according to claim 1 comprising means for blockingsaid sectors in zero registering positions,

means operable by said drive means for connecting said accumulator andfor rendering said blocking mean effective,

said last mentioned means being effective to concurrently disconnectsaid accumulator and to render said blocking means ineffective aftersaid sectors are blocked in zero registering positions.

5. The combination according to claim l comprising means for blockingsaid sectors in zero registering positions,

and means controlled by said drive means after said sectors are blockedin zero registering position for rendering said blocking meansineffective and for disconnecting said accumulator.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means foroperatively connecting said accumulator to said sectors comprises geartrains having oppositely rotatable sets of gears,

means for normally entraining one of said sets gears with saidaccumulator,

and selectively settable means for entraining the other of said sets ofgears with said accumulator.

7. The combination according to claim I wherein said means foroperatively connecting said accumulator to said sectors comprises gearmembers driven by said sectors,

a first set of gears meshing with said gear members,

a second set of gears meshing with said first set of gears,

means for normally entraining one of said sets of gears with saidaccumulator during said return movement of said sectors whereby to drivesaid accumulator in one direction,

and selectively settable means for moving said first and second sets ofgears together about the axes of said gear members whereby to enablesaid last mentioned means to entrain the other of said sets of gearswith said accumulator during said return movement of said sectorswhereby to drive said accumulator in the opposite direction.

8. in a checkwriter having an accumulator,

the combination comprising means including a plurality of manuallysettable sectors,

each of said sectors being differentially settable from a home positionfor setting up an amount from zero to nine to be printed,

each of said sectors being effective when in said home position to setup a special symbol to be printed;

cyclically operable drive means,

means operable by said drive means for printing amounts and symbols setup by said sectors,

means operable by said drive means for thereafter returning said sectorsto said home positions,

said last mentioned means being effective to momentarily arrest saidsectors when said sectors register zero,

means for operably connecting said accumulator to said sectors duringsaid return movement of said sectors whereby to drive said accumulator,

said last mentioned means comprising members driven by said sectors,

a first set of gears meshing with said first set of gears;

said sets of gears being moveable about the axes of said gear membersfrom one position wherein said first set of gears is effective to drivesaid accumulator in one direction to a second position wherein saidsecond set of gears is effective to drive said accumulator in theopposite direction,

spring means for normally maintaining said sets of gears in said firstposition,

means including a depressible key for moving said sets of gears intosaid second position;

a latch for maintaining said sets of gears in said second posianiliiieans controlled by said drive means for invariably releasing saidlatch after said sectors are returned to said zero positions.

1 t I! i I

1. In a checkwriter having an accumulator, the combination comprisingmeans including a plurality of manually settable sectors, each of saidsectors being differentially settable from a home position for settingup an amount to be printed, each of said sectors being effective when insaid home position to set up a special symbol to be printed; cyclicallyoperable drive means, means operable by said drive means for printingamounts and symbols set up by said sectors, means operable by said drivemeans for thereafter returning said sectors to said home positions, saidlast mentioned means being effective to momentarily arrest said sectorswhen said sectors register zero, means for operatively connecting saidaccumulator to said sectors during said return movement of said sectorswhereby to drive said accumulator, and means for disconnecting saidaccumulator when said sectors are momentarily arrested.
 2. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein said means for returning saidsectors comprises a series of intermeshing gear teeth, said series ofteeth being interrupted whereby to momentarily arrest the returnmovement of said sectors when said sectors register zero.
 3. Thecombination according to claim 1 comprising means for blocking saidsectors on zero registering position, and means operable by said drivemeans for rendering said blocking means effective when said sectors movetoward zero register positions and for rendering said blocking meansineffective upon said disconnection of said accumulator.
 4. Thecombination according to claim 1 comprising means for blocking saidsectors in zero registering positions, means operable by said drivemeans for connecting said accumulator and for rendering said blockingmean effective, said last mentioned means being effective toconcurrently disconnect said accumulator and to render said blockingmeans ineffective after said sectors are blocked in zero registeringpositions.
 5. The combination according to claim 1 comprising means forblocking said sectors in zero registering positions, and meanscontrolled by said drive means after said sectors are blocked in zeroregistering position for rendering said blocking means ineffective andfor disconnecting said accumulator.
 6. The combination according toclaim 1 wherein said means for operatively connecting said accumulatorto said sectors comprises gear trains having oppositely rotatable setsof gears, means for normally entraining one of said sets gears with saidaccumulator, and selectively settable means for entraining the other ofsaid sets of gears with said accumulator.
 7. The combination accordingto claim 1 wherein said means for operatively connecting saidaccumulator to said sectors comprises gear members driven by saidsectors, a first set of gears meshing with said gear members, a secondset of gears meshing with said first set of gears, means for Normallyentraining one of said sets of gears with said accumulator during saidreturn movement of said sectors whereby to drive said accumulator in onedirection, and selectively settable means for moving said first andsecond sets of gears together about the axes of said gear memberswhereby to enable said last mentioned means to entrain the other of saidsets of gears with said accumulator during said return movement of saidsectors whereby to drive said accumulator in the opposite direction. 8.In a checkwriter having an accumulator, the combination comprising meansincluding a plurality of manually settable sectors, each of said sectorsbeing differentially settable from a home position for setting up anamount from zero to nine to be printed, each of said sectors beingeffective when in said home position to set up a special symbol to beprinted; cyclically operable drive means, means operable by said drivemeans for printing amounts and symbols set up by said sectors, meansoperable by said drive means for thereafter returning said sectors tosaid home positions, said last mentioned means being effective tomomentarily arrest said sectors when said sectors register zero, meansfor operably connecting said accumulator to said sectors during saidreturn movement of said sectors whereby to drive said accumulator, saidlast mentioned means comprising members driven by said sectors, a firstset of gears meshing with said first set of gears; said sets of gearsbeing moveable about the axes of said gear members from one positionwherein said first set of gears is effective to drive said accumulatorin one direction to a second position wherein said second set of gearsis effective to drive said accumulator in the opposite direction, springmeans for normally maintaining said sets of gears in said firstposition, means including a depressible key for moving said sets ofgears into said second position; a latch for maintaining said sets ofgears in said second position, and means controlled by said drive meansfor invariably releasing said latch after said sectors are returned tosaid zero positions.